Tuning on a Budget
Use these Free Tools to Keep your Apps Humming
Posted on 12/16/2006 (originally published in print on 7/1/2005)
by Mark Saucier
PeopleSoft has evolved from a two-tier architecture to a four-tier architecture which incorporates a number of pieces — enterprise network, client machines, application servers, Web servers, database servers, etc. Most PeopleSoft implementations suffer from performance-related problems. These problems range from poor online transaction response times to inadequate batch throughput.
PeopleSoft Internet Architecture
System Performance is largely gauged by user perception - and only they can truly appreciate a finely tuned architecture. They also are the ones who will rain on your parade. Poor performance can ruin your rollout, no matter how successful you think your project is. If the system is slow, the end users will be put off no matter how good the new functionality is. We cannot afford to cut or not include performance tuning in our projects.
The goal of this article is to address one of the major reasons why Performance tuning is cut from projects. And I will show you how you can use tools that come with PeopleSoft, and another that you can get for free to help you down the road of optimal system performance. In the next issue of VP1 I will guide you on how to use the other delivered tools to collect and monitor performance metrics while running stress tests. I will show you how to dissect the results, and share with you my optimal PeopleSoft configuration.
I would like to address the main reason I hear performance tuning is axed from projects. Cost. Stress testing tools can cost a lot along with training on these tools. The timing of performance tuning is often planned to take place toward the end of projects at a time when most budgets are being squeezed. It’s easy to cut this activity because of the perceived cost to be saved. While you initially save some project money, your end users may force you into this activity after the fact because they simply can not live with poor performance. So the next time you are considering cutting performance tuning from your project just know there is a budget friendly solution out there.
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